Protective device for bathtub and shower protrusions

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for protecting against bodily harm caused by contacting a fixed protruding object in a shower or bathtub, for example. According to an example, the apparatus can include a cover unit configured to substantially cover the protrusion, the cover including a front and one or more sides. The apparatus can further include at least one affixing element configured to removably affix the cover unit to a surface from which the protruding object protrudes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This relates generally to safety devices providing protection frombodily injury caused by fixed objects located near surfaces, such asbathtubs and showers, for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In areas such as shower stalls, bathtubs, or various other surfaces,fixed and often rigid objects, for holding materials or operating theflow of water, etc., may protrude from walls of such areas, for example.Such areas have a tendency to become slippery as they are exposed tomoisture, and it is easy for one to lose his or her balance, which mayresult in inadvertently contacting or colliding with a fixed protrudingobject. Similarly, small children, for example, may be unstable and fallin such areas, which may cause a dangerous collision with the fixedprotruding object. In conventional bathtubs or showers, for example,inadvertently contacting a fixed protrusion could result in significantbodily harm.

Moreover, in areas such as bathtubs and showers, certain protrusions mayhold potentially hazardous materials or may operate the flow andtemperature of water. Conventionally, a child, for example, could haveeasy access to such protrusions, which may result in contact withdangerous materials and/or potentially scalding water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to solving one or moreof the problems presented in the prior art, as well as providingadditional features that will become readily apparent by reference tothe following description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing.

Embodiments described herein my directed to an apparatus for protectingagainst bodily harm caused by contacting a fixed protruding object, forexample. According to an example, the apparatus can include a cover unitconfigured to substantially cover the protrusion, the cover including afront and one or more sides. The apparatus can further include at leastone affixing element configured, if so desired, to removably affix thecover unit to a surface of the shower or bathtub.

As discussed herein, a hinge unit can be employed adjacent to at leastone of the sides, such that the cover unit can swing open in order toallow access to the protrusion without completely detaching each of theat least one affixing element.

Further, a support unit can be included configured to further stabilizethe cover unit from slipping or buckling if external pressure is appliedto the cover unit while affixed to the surface of the shower or bathtub.

Various features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well asthe structure and operation of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure, are described in further detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingFigures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. These drawingsare provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosureand should not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, orapplicability of the disclosure. It should be noted that for clarity andease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective of an exemplary apparatus forcovering a protrusion in a bathtub or shower, according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective of an exemplary apparatus forcovering a protrusion in a bathtub or shower, according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary apparatus for covering a protrusion in abathtub or shower, according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of embodiments, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which it is shownby way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention canbe practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be usedand structural changes can be made without departing from the scope ofthe disclosed embodiments.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an apparatus configured toprotect against bodily injury caused by falling, losing balance orotherwise striking protrusions in bathtub or shower areas, or any othersurface on which one may slip, for example, and fall or wish to avoidcontact with a protruding device, for example. Exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein are directed to a protruding soap dish, faucet and/orfaucet handles within bathtubs and showers; however, it should beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the described featurescould be applied to various other objects which could cause injuryaround surfaces, such as a bathtub or shower, for example.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary side perspective of an apparatus forcovering a protrusion in a bathtub or shower, for example, according toone embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, soap dish 130 is partially embeddedwithin, or completely protruding from, a wall 170 of a bathtub orshower. Soap dish 130 is protruding, at least in part, from wall 170, asincorporated in many conventional bathtubs and shower stalls. In thismanner, if one were to fall while standing on a wet surface, forexample, adjacent to wall 170, it is possible that the protrudingportion of soap dish 130 could cause bodily harm if one were to makecontact with it while falling. Of course, one of ordinary skill in theart would realize that other types of inadvertent bumping or striking ofan object (e.g., soap dish 130) can cause similar harm.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, protective cover unit 100 is configuredto substantially cover, at least in part, the protruding portion of soapdish 130. Cover unit 100 can include at least one front portion 110and/or one or more protective sides. According to an embodiment, allfour sides and the front portion 110 can be employed together tosubstantially cover the protruding portion of soap dish 130 completely.In this manner, a child, for example, would be unable to access anymaterials that are on soap dish 130, such as unsafe soap, shampoo, etc.

The front portion 110 and/or any of the protective sides can be formedof an elastomeric material, for example, in order to provide astructurally strong cover unit 100, while being substantially softerthan the protruding portion of soap dish 130 (e.g., porcelain orceramic). In this manner, if one were to fall or otherwise inadvertentlycome into contact with cover unit 100, contacting cover unit 100 mayresult in significantly less injury (or no injury), as compared tocontacting the protruding portion of soap dish 130, for example. One ofordinary skill in the art would realize that other materials could beused for portions of cover unit 100, including a foam-type substance,such as polyethylene or Styrofoam, for example. According to certainembodiments, waterproof materials may be preferable.

Cover unit 100 can be affixed to wall 170 via affixing element(s) 120.In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Affixing elements 120 includefour suction cup devices located a each corner of cover unit 100. Thedepicted embodiment is for exemplary purposes only, and one of ordinaryskill in the art would realize that various othertechniques/configurations could be employed in order to affix cover unit100 to wall 170 in a manner such that soap dish 130 (or faucet handle(s)and/or knob (see FIG. 3)) is substantially covered. As an alternative,affixing elements 120 could be any adhesive, or any combination ofvarious types of conventional affixing mechanisms to not permanentlyalter or disfigure the surface to which it is attaching, according to anexemplary embodiment. According to several embodiments, it can bepreferable that affixing elements 120 are configured to be able to affixcover unit 100 to wall 170, even when exposed to moisture from a shower,bath, etc. In the example depicted, there is a space between cover unit100 and wall 170 for illustrative purposes, in order to show hingingelement 140 and affixing element 120; however, according to one possibleconfiguration, cover unit can be flush against wall 170 in order tosubstantially provide a water-tight seal, so water cannot fill theinside of cover unit 100 and soap dish 130.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one or more hinging units 140 can be coupledto affixing element 120 and cover unit 100 in a manner such that coverunit 100 can be rotated in a direction shown by reference numeral 145.According o this example, one could detach affixing elements 120 frombelow soap dish 130 and rotate the cover unit upward in to access soapdish 130, without the need to completely detach all affixing elements120. It should be clear that the upward rotation is depicted as oneexample, and a hinging unit 140 could be placed at various locations oncover unit 100 without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, cover unit 100 can be fitted with a support unit 150attached within cover unit 100, for example. Support unit 150 can bepositioned such that it rests against the inside of soap dish 130 inorder to provide additional support for cover unit 100 in case one slipsand falls or otherwise inadvertently contacts cover unit 100. Supportunit 150 can be made of plastic or various other materials strong enoughto maintain the position of cover unit 100, even when bumped, leaned on,or pushed down, for example. Support unit 150 may also include a hingeelement coupling support unit 150 to cover 100 inside the front portion110 (or any side), such that support unit 150 can be maneuvered to anappropriate angle α where one end of support unit 150 is securelycontacting the inside of soap dish 130 so as to sustain some downwardpressure on cover unit 100. Angle α could be various angles, but islikely less than 90 degrees to provide sufficient pressure against theinside of soap dish 130, to counteract downward pressure being appliedto cover unit 100. The end of support unit 150 could include a rubberportion, or other non-slipping material, to keep support unit 150 inplace. According to another embodiment, support unit 150 can becompletely removable from cover unit 100.

According to an embodiment, front portion 110 of cover unit 100 caninclude an attachment unit 160, which can be configured to attach,either permanently or in a removable fashion, a mirror, picture and/ortoy, etc. (not depicted), in order o provide entertainment for a bathingchild, for example. Attachment unit 160 may include Velcro, for example,or any other adhesive (preferably waterproof) such that a mirror,picture, toy, etc. can be attached thereto.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary front perspective of cover unit 100, with aconfiguration substantially similar to that described above with respectto FIG. 1. As noted above, the example of FIG. 1 includes four suctioncups as affixing elements 120, located at each corner of cover unit 100.In this exemplary embodiment, hinging units 140 are located at each ofthe top corners, coupled to cover unit 100 and affixing elements 120.With this configuration, cover unit could swing (rotate) upward in orderto access the soap dish 130 (not depicted) underneath. In this manner,one could gain access to soap dish 130 without completely removing coverunit 100, but instead merely disengaging the bottom affixing elements120, if they are used.

The exemplary proportions of various elements of FIG. 2, including thesizes/locations of attachment unit 160 and affixing elements 120, is forillustrative purposes only, and is not meant to limit the disclosure inany way. It would be obvious that various combinations of elementsdepicted, in various positions and proportions, could be similarlyimplemented.

Although the foregoing exemplary embodiments have been directed toproviding protection from a protruding portion of a soap dish 130,various other protrusions may be covered with cover unit 100 using asimilar concept. For example, FIG. 3 shows yet another front perspectiveof an exemplary cover unit 100; however, in the depicted embodiment,cover unit 100 is being used to substantially cover bath/shower faucethandle(s) 300 and/or faucet 310. Here, cover unit 100 is providingsubstantially similar protection from bodily harm caused by contacting aprotruding object, as discussed above in detail.

In FIG. 3, three faucet handles 300 and a faucet 310 are shown forillustrative purposes; however, any other protruding fixed object couldbe similarly covered using cover unit 100 (e.g., lever(s), nob(s),etc.). Various sizes of front portion 110 and any of the sides of coverunit 100 may be employed depending on the size of the fixed protrudingobject to be covered thereby. In the case of a cover unit 100 employedto cover a faucet and handle(s), as shown in FIG. 3, it may bepreferable to only attach affixing elements 120 to one side of the coverunit 100 (e.g., only the top, as shown). In this manner, one could gaineasy access to the handles 300 and faucet 310 by rotating the cover unit100 upwards in order to adjust the water temperature and flow, asneeded, without needing to disengage any affixing elements 120.According to this example, it may be further beneficial to not have abottom side of cover unit 100, so that water could flow from faucet 310while cover unit 100 is affixed to a wall and rotated downward (e.g., ina closed position).

As a result of the foregoing configurations, an apparatus may beprovided, which includes cover unit 100 capable of protecting againstbodily injury caused by colliding with or otherwise contactingprotrusions in bathtub or shower areas, or any other surface on whichone may slip and fall or otherwise inadvertently come into contact withsuch protrusions. The apparatus may further protect a child, forexample, from accessing and contacting any potentially hazardousmaterials that may be positioned on a covered protrusion (e.g., a soapdish), or from being able to access potentially scalding hot water, forexample.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, itshould be understood that they have been presented by way of exampleonly, and not by way of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams maydepict an example architectural or other configuration for thedisclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features andfunctionality that can be included in the disclosure. The disclosure isnot restricted to the illustrated example architectures orconfigurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternativearchitectures and configurations. Additionally, although the disclosureis described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments andimplementations, it should be understood that the various features andfunctionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments arenot limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment withwhich they are described. They instead can be applied alone or in somecombination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure,whether or not such embodiments are described, and whether or not suchfeatures are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thusthe breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited byany of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectivessuch as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known”,and terms of similar meaning, should not be construed as limiting theitem described to a given time period, or to an item available as of agiven time. But instead these terms should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable, known now, or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group ofitems linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiringthat each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, butrather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise.Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should notbe read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rathershould also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise.Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the disclosuremay be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplatedto be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular isexplicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as“one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to”, or other like phrasesin some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case isintended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may beabsent.

Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means,elements or method steps may be implemented by, for example, a singleunit. Additionally, although individual features may be included indifferent claims, these may possibly be advantageously combined. Theinclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination offeatures is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also, the inclusion of afeature in one category of claims does not imply a limitation to thiscategory, but rather the feature may be equally applicable to otherclaim categories, as appropriate.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for protecting against bodily harmcaused by contacting a fixed protruding object, comprising: a cover unitconfigured to substantially cover the protrusion, the cover including afront and one or more sides; and at least one affixing elementconfigured to removably affix the cover unit to a surface from which thefixed protruding object protrudes.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe protruding object is a soap dish.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the protruding object includes at least one of a faucet handleand a faucet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at east oneaffixing element includes at least one suction cup.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the at east one affixing element includes an adhesive.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front and theone or more sides of the cover unit is made of an elastomeric material.7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one affixing elementis configured to affix the cover unit to the surface when exposed tomoisture.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hinge unitadjacent to at least one of the sides, such that the cover unit canswing open in order to allow access to the protruding object withoutcompletely detaching each of the at least one affixing element.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the front includes an attachment unitconfigured to removably attach at least one of a mirror, a picture and atoy.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a support unitconfigured to further stabilize the cover unit from slipping or bucklingif external pressure is applied to the cover unit while affixed to thesurface from which the protruding object protrudes.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the front and the one or more sides ofthe cover unit is made of a water-resistant material.
 12. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein at least one of the front and the one or more sidesof the cover unit is made of a foam-type material.